Another rockslide hits I-40

Rocks crashed onto lanes of I-40 westbound already closed for a similar rockslide in Tennessee. (NCDOT)

February 3, 2012 1:16:12 PM PST

WESTERN N.C. --

More rocks came tumbling down to Interstate 40 Friday, this time in western North Carolina.

It happened around noon Friday, along I-40 westbound at mile marker 7, near the Tennessee border.

This rockslide is not impacting travel this time because this section of I-40 westbound was already closed due to a rockslide in Tennessee. The eastbound lanes of I-40 in this area remain open and are not affected by the most recent slide.

Engineers are on the scene assessing the extent of the rockslide.

Westbound traffic traveling from North Carolina to Tennessee may continue to use the signed detour routes currently in place for the I-40 westbound closure.

Western North Carolina destinations such as Asheville, Cherokee, Waynesville, Maggie Valley and North Carolina sections of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are still accessible via I-40 westbound without taking a detour. Only interstate travel into Tennessee is affected by the closure of I-40 West near the state line.

The primary detour route for all vehicles is I-240 West in Asheville to I-26 West to I-81 South in Tennessee back to I-40. In addition to the primary signed detour route for all vehicles, non-commercial vehicles can also bypass the I-40 West closure by following U.S. 74 West (via Exit 27) or U.S. 19 South (via Exit 20/U.S. 276 South) to U.S. 441 North, which travels through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park into Tennessee and connects back with I-40.

Meanwhile, the Tennessee Department of Transportation hopes to have a rockslide just over the North Carolina border cleared by Monday.